Zoe Saldaña Overtakes Box Office Rivals After Avatar Triumph

With the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Zoe Saldaña has quietly edged past her peers to become the highest-earning actor at the global box office. Her ascent is hardly out of the blue, given her recurring roles in some of the most lucrative film franchises of recent years. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she’s brought Gamora to life, to the sweeping landscapes of Pandora as Neytiri, and even the bridge of the Starship Enterprise as Nyota Uhura, Saldaña’s career has been a masterclass in franchise hopping.

Scarlett Johansson, who previously held the crown, now finds herself in second place, while Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt round out the top five. Saldaña’s films have collectively amassed more than $15.4 billion worldwide, a figure that puts her comfortably ahead of the competition.

Blockbuster Milestones and Record-Breaking Roles

Back in 2023, Saldaña became the first performer to notch up four separate films each grossing over $1 billion globally. That achievement alone would be enough for most, but she’s continued to rack up accolades. Her filmography reads like a who’s who of modern blockbusters: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the entire Avatar trilogy to date, five Marvel outings—including the Guardians of the Galaxy series and both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame—and the trio of Star Trek reboots.

Last year, she added an Academy Award to her collection, taking home Best Supporting Actress for her turn in the musical Emilia Pérez. Not content to rest on her laurels, she’s also currently headlining the Paramount+ series Lioness.

The Future of Avatar and Saldaña’s Next Moves

As for what’s next, the future of the Avatar saga remains a bit of a question mark. James Cameron, the director behind the franchise, has yet to confirm whether a fourth instalment will go ahead.

“I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does,”

he remarked recently, before adding,

“I’m not going to rule it out. I mean, I’ve got to make it in a vigorous way, to handle the kind of volume and energy of the work for another six or seven years. You know what I mean? I might not be able to do that.”

For now, Avatar 4 is pencilled in for a December 2029 release, with a fresh narrator set to take the reins. Whether or not Cameron returns to the director’s chair, the appetite for more adventures on Pandora shows little sign of waning.

What’s On at the Cinema

While the next chapter in the Avatar saga remains up in the air, Fire and Ash continues to draw crowds. For those keen to delve deeper, there are guides exploring the film’s ending and whether a post-credits scene awaits the patient viewer. Saldaña’s star, it seems, is only set to burn brighter as audiences flock to see her latest work on the big screen.